Christian has had a huge effect on the world we live in. Jesus message was revolutionary, and it's ideas have been influential western culture. Being brought up christian I have an appreciation of many of the ideas within christianity. But I also have an awareness that all is not right within the christian movement. In recent years I have been increasingly concerned with how the modern christian movement has a tendency to suppress disagreement. It includes the way christians treat non-christians, and also the way christians treat their own mind, suppressing any questions they might have.
I'm talking about doctrine and theology, as well as subcultural attitudes. In terms of doctrines, doctrines such as the notion that church dogma is from God, and therefore questioning it, and using your own mind is in essence an act of rebellion. Merely holding a view that differs from 'what God has ordained', is sinful, and requires repentance. And if you aren't repentant, there is the doctrine of hell; that all those who are outside the church are destined to burn in eternal torment. Put these together, and and there is the threat; agree with us, or face the consequences. This means christians can be scared to ask questions, not wanting to be a rebel against God. At the same time, this means christians can treat non-believers with contempt, as by holding a different view, they must be in active rebellion against the Lord.
In terms of sub-culture, it can be a little more subtle (and often overlapping with theology). There is the separation of christians and non-christians, often fueled by christian disapproval of non-christian activities. Combined with a tendency for christians to marry only christians, this means christians are often 'locked into' christian subcultures, making it difficult for them to ever question the status quo, and making life outside of the subculture seem foreign and off-putting should anyone ever consider leaving christianity. And then again, there is the mixture of sadness / betrayal / contempt that christians express towards those who are on the outside, for those who refuse to accept christianity.
What's my problem with it? Well, I have a number of reasons, which I have already hinted at. First, it can cause christians to treat non-christians badly, by treating them as rebellious for simply holding a different view. Especially christians who have 'drifted away', who are viewed with much sadness. Second, it can cause christians themselves a lot of unnecessary difficulty when going through life, it requires them to hold onto views that they may feel aren't quite right, which can create an internal conflict. It also causes fear and worry if they question, and causes sadness and betrayal if anyone they know question and decide to become non-christian. Thirdly, it gets in the way of the truth, as christians are required to put their better judgment aside and accept whatever doctrine a particular church teaches. So christians can get in the habit of accepting things without proper evidence, and can become obsessed with what is right or wrong, and fail to make decisions based on what is best.
I think I need to unpack this idea a little more, but for now I'm going to leave this for your comments. Hopefully you understand, at least in broad terms, what I'm getting at when I talk about the christian suppression of dissent. In further posts, I hope to post more about the assassination of reason, to post an answer to the objection that if God commands it we should follow anyway, and to post about where this comes from, and how this fits with what Jesus says. We'll see how things go.
In the meantime, what are your thoughts? Am I overly critical of christianity (bear in mind this post is a criticism of one aspect of christianity, so it's going to be critical :)? Can you think of other examples of suppression of dissent? Counter-examples?
I'm talking about doctrine and theology, as well as subcultural attitudes. In terms of doctrines, doctrines such as the notion that church dogma is from God, and therefore questioning it, and using your own mind is in essence an act of rebellion. Merely holding a view that differs from 'what God has ordained', is sinful, and requires repentance. And if you aren't repentant, there is the doctrine of hell; that all those who are outside the church are destined to burn in eternal torment. Put these together, and and there is the threat; agree with us, or face the consequences. This means christians can be scared to ask questions, not wanting to be a rebel against God. At the same time, this means christians can treat non-believers with contempt, as by holding a different view, they must be in active rebellion against the Lord.
In terms of sub-culture, it can be a little more subtle (and often overlapping with theology). There is the separation of christians and non-christians, often fueled by christian disapproval of non-christian activities. Combined with a tendency for christians to marry only christians, this means christians are often 'locked into' christian subcultures, making it difficult for them to ever question the status quo, and making life outside of the subculture seem foreign and off-putting should anyone ever consider leaving christianity. And then again, there is the mixture of sadness / betrayal / contempt that christians express towards those who are on the outside, for those who refuse to accept christianity.
What's my problem with it? Well, I have a number of reasons, which I have already hinted at. First, it can cause christians to treat non-christians badly, by treating them as rebellious for simply holding a different view. Especially christians who have 'drifted away', who are viewed with much sadness. Second, it can cause christians themselves a lot of unnecessary difficulty when going through life, it requires them to hold onto views that they may feel aren't quite right, which can create an internal conflict. It also causes fear and worry if they question, and causes sadness and betrayal if anyone they know question and decide to become non-christian. Thirdly, it gets in the way of the truth, as christians are required to put their better judgment aside and accept whatever doctrine a particular church teaches. So christians can get in the habit of accepting things without proper evidence, and can become obsessed with what is right or wrong, and fail to make decisions based on what is best.
I think I need to unpack this idea a little more, but for now I'm going to leave this for your comments. Hopefully you understand, at least in broad terms, what I'm getting at when I talk about the christian suppression of dissent. In further posts, I hope to post more about the assassination of reason, to post an answer to the objection that if God commands it we should follow anyway, and to post about where this comes from, and how this fits with what Jesus says. We'll see how things go.
In the meantime, what are your thoughts? Am I overly critical of christianity (bear in mind this post is a criticism of one aspect of christianity, so it's going to be critical :)? Can you think of other examples of suppression of dissent? Counter-examples?
One thought is a kind of 'hierarchy of virtue.' If it's good to not do something, surely it's even more moral to not even think about it? ("If you've looked at a woman with lust in your eye…") And unfortunately, to discuss something we have to think about it. There's a fine distinction between "think about" and "think about doing," and it's one that a lot of people miss.
ReplyDeleteHi Nathan,
ReplyDeleteSo you're studying to be a doctor? That's great, I think you'd be good at it. Have a look at the videos on http://reallivepreacher.com/taxonomy/term/183.
Helen
Woah, didn't notice your comment Helen, sorry about the delay replying! Cheers for the link, I'm a fan of RLP, though haven't watched those, I'll get onto it. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm replying a bit late, so you may not read this, but... how are things with you? what are you up to today?
[that sounded weird? yes]
ReplyDelete*what are you up to these days?